“Deny it all you want, but it’s all over your face, little brother.”
He swiped his palm down his face, wondering what on earth she was talking about. “I don’t know why I bother asking you anything.”
Swayzie snorted. “Because your other option is Maverik, and we both know how that conversation would go.”
Hunter sagged. “Fine. Tease me mercilessly. But somewhere in there, could you throw in some advice?”
Swayzie sobered and stared out across the landscape. The hills—as they all called them—were large enough to obscure their view of the majority of the herd, who liked to spend their time in the valleys higher up. There were plenty of trees for shade and smaller brooks for water. “I’d see how she acts today. If she friend-zones you, then you have your answer. But if she’s flirty and friendly and finds excuses to touch you, then you’re in.”
Hunter’s stomach lifted and then dropped off a cliff at the thought of Zoey holding on to his arm like she had the night before. “Thanks, Swaz—that’s actually helpful.”
She shrugged. “I told you all growing up I was the smart one.”
He laughed. “Well, smart one …” He reached down and turned off the water; the trough had filled almost to the top. “How are you going to hold Mom off until spring?” The image of his mom walking Swayzie into the church and telling her tojust get it done alreadymade him chuckle.
She made a face. “Run away from home?”
He lifted an eyebrow. Turning away from the fence, he started the long walk home, Swayzie by his side.
She let out a groan. “You would think a decision as big as who I’m going to marry—and when—would be more of a concern for my mother.”
“Wait—are you saying you’re not sure you want to marry Lucky?” The news was like a brick to the forehead.
“That’s not what I’m saying at all!” Swayzie threw both hands in the air and then let them drop. “None of you understand.”
“Then enlighten me.”
She sighed, then seemed to gather herself in as she started to speak. “Lucky and I have our whole lives to be married. But we only have this time to be engaged. We didn’t date that long … I just don’t want to look back and feel cheated out of anything. No regrets. Live in the moment. Enjoy it.”
Hunter glanced down. “But no one’s letting you enjoy it—they keep pushing you to move to the next phase.”
“Exactly!”
“All right—I get you.” Hunter pushed his work hat back on his forehead and let the sun hit his face. “No more teasing from me.”
“Thank you.” Swayzie’s whole demeanor switched from tense and tight to relaxed and calm. “If I could only get everyone else to understand—especially Mom. She’s on a rampage this week, and with the family dinner … I just know she’s going to get the aunts to gang up on me.” She hugged herself.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Whatever.” Swayzie hip-bumped him. “You’ll be too busy with Zoey to know the rest of us are around.”
He grinned. “Can’t help it. That woman is amazing.”
Swayzie laughed out loud, throwing her head back and everything. “You are so in love.”
Hunter shrugged. Whether he was or wasn’t, there were about 300 steps between where he and Zoey stood and actually saying those words out loud.
With Swayzie to talk to and laugh with, the walk back to the house didn’t take half as long as the walk out to the pasture had. The decrease in time could also be attributed to the fact that he’d been weighed down with questions when he went out there and was now full of answers.
Swayzie peeled off at the barn, saying she had a few things to work on before dinner started. On the back porch, Dad watched the temperature gauge on the smoker. They always provided the meat for dinner—they owned a cattle ranch, after all—but the rest of the meal was potluck. Mom was probably inside making a salad or something. She couldn’t just put her feet up for an afternoon, said it drove her nuts to be idle.
Hunter hurried in, realizing that he had a fine layer of dust on his clothes. He wanted to change, and he rushed through the kitchen.
“Hey,” Mom called out from where she chopped veggies for a tray.
He pulled up short. “Yeah?”
“What’s the rush?”
